Following his 49-for-50 performance in 2008, the FiveThirtyEight data pollster correctly predicted the results of the presidential election in all 50 states in 2012 – in many cases predicting the margin of victory as well as nearly all Senate races. While this may be a cool trick in election years, what Nate Silver’s accuracy represents means businesses the world over should be rethinking how assumptions and intuition can now be verified at scale.

According to a new report from the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, evidence is mounting of social networking forums reaching more young children, even though research on the media habits of tweens and pretweens is scarce and highly fragmented. The report cites abundant research into the media use of teens. Unsurprisingly, they’re heavy and frequent social media users. The report’s authors state that it is a mistake to equate the online and social media activities of children under 13 with that of teenagers. For children under nine, speculation is that their social media use occurs not on commonly known sites, such as Facebook, but rather on games, video-sharing sites and other nontraditional yet highly social online forums.

In an effort to bring more produced content to its platform, last year YouTube laid out $100 million to partners to create video – an effort called “Channels.” Funded Channels featured programming from Jay Z, Tony Hawk and Madonna. This year, the video juggernaut is reinvesting cash with the same aim – but with a fraction of the partners, eliminating more than 60%. YouTube’s global head of content suggested this is a way to optimize and identify “channels that are delivering the best return on our investment.” This begs the question: Is it a pivot of a failed push for semi-pro content? Stay tuned to find out.

A recent study shows that users will begin abandoning an online video after two seconds if the video isn’t loading. With each second of delay that passes, 6% more users give up on watching. The study points to faster Internet connections as the cause of this growth in impatience and points out that users are slightly more patient for long-length videos than they are for short videos. An interesting find: users are more patient when viewing videos on their mobile devices.

Following his 49-for-50 performance in 2008, the FiveThirtyEight data pollster correctly predicted the results of the presidential election in all 50 states in 2012 – in many cases predicting the margin of victory as well as nearly all Senate races. While this may be a cool trick in election years, what Nate Silver’s accuracy represents means businesses the world over should be rethinking how assumptions and intuition can now be verified at scale.

According to a new report from the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, evidence is mounting of social networking forums reaching more young children, even though research on the media habits of tweens and pretweens is scarce and highly fragmented. The report cites abundant research into the media use of teens. Unsurprisingly, they’re heavy and frequent social media users. The report’s authors state that it is a mistake to equate the online and social media activities of children under 13 with that of teenagers. For children under nine, speculation is that their social media use occurs not on commonly known sites, such as Facebook, but rather on games, video-sharing sites and other nontraditional yet highly social online forums.

In an effort to bring more produced content to its platform, last year YouTube laid out $100 million to partners to create video – an effort called “Channels.” Funded Channels featured programming from Jay Z, Tony Hawk and Madonna. This year, the video juggernaut is reinvesting cash with the same aim – but with a fraction of the partners, eliminating more than 60%. YouTube’s global head of content suggested this is a way to optimize and identify “channels that are delivering the best return on our investment.” This begs the question: Is it a pivot of a failed push for semi-pro content? Stay tuned to find out.

A recent study shows that users will begin abandoning an online video after two seconds if the video isn’t loading. With each second of delay that passes, 6% more users give up on watching. The study points to faster Internet connections as the cause of this growth in impatience and points out that users are slightly more patient for long-length videos than they are for short videos. An interesting find: users are more patient when viewing videos on their mobile devices.

Following his 49-for-50 performance in 2008, the FiveThirtyEight data pollster correctly predicted the results of the presidential election in all 50 states in 2012 – in many cases predicting the margin of victory as well as nearly all Senate races. While this may be a cool trick in election years, what Nate Silver’s accuracy represents means businesses the world over should be rethinking how assumptions and intuition can now be verified at scale.

According to a new report from the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, evidence is mounting of social networking forums reaching more young children, even though research on the media habits of tweens and pretweens is scarce and highly fragmented. The report cites abundant research into the media use of teens. Unsurprisingly, they’re heavy and frequent social media users. The report’s authors state that it is a mistake to equate the online and social media activities of children under 13 with that of teenagers. For children under nine, speculation is that their social media use occurs not on commonly known sites, such as Facebook, but rather on games, video-sharing sites and other nontraditional yet highly social online forums.

In an effort to bring more produced content to its platform, last year YouTube laid out $100 million to partners to create video – an effort called “Channels.” Funded Channels featured programming from Jay Z, Tony Hawk and Madonna. This year, the video juggernaut is reinvesting cash with the same aim – but with a fraction of the partners, eliminating more than 60%. YouTube’s global head of content suggested this is a way to optimize and identify “channels that are delivering the best return on our investment.” This begs the question: Is it a pivot of a failed push for semi-pro content? Stay tuned to find out.

A recent study shows that users will begin abandoning an online video after two seconds if the video isn’t loading. With each second of delay that passes, 6% more users give up on watching. The study points to faster Internet connections as the cause of this growth in impatience and points out that users are slightly more patient for long-length videos than they are for short videos. An interesting find: users are more patient when viewing videos on their mobile devices.

Acting as both on-the-scene reporter and supplier of big-picture context, Twitter was briefly transformed from a network of self-indulgence, self-promotion and sarcastic retweets into the real-time information service it has been promised to be. Over the years we have seen flashes of Twitter’s ability to connect the masses around a shared event, from the Super Bowl to the earthquake in Japan. Last week, amid the damage on the East Coast, we saw Twitter’s richest potential yet for sharing both the micro and macro views of culture-defining events – time will tell if this will be the true legacy of Twitter.

Instagram is no longer just a mobile platform. Users can now further socialize their photo-filtering activities through their online profile pages with common social network capabilities such as the ability to follow users, comment and like photos, and edit profiles easily and directly from the Web. Profile pages are available for individuals and brands. Check out Nike’s: http://instagram.com/nike. The platform still wants to keep the service as a mobile-centric one, so it is limiting photo uploads to mobile devices only – for now.

The micro-blogging platform has grown substantially from 15 billion monthly page views in early 2012 and is boasting a growth rate of around 30% a year. The company only monetizes a small sliver of its impressions to preserve the proper user experience and community feel. David Karp, CEO of Tumblr, explains the decision to keep advertising limited and to include reblogging as the format for post feedback.

We’ve heard over and over that mobile ads are the future, so why are we not developing a separate strategy to support them? According to Sam Grobart, repurposing banner and interstitial ads does not work because they are disruptive to the mobile experience. Facebook and Twitter are in the process of trying to overcome the resistance by developing a “native” strategy that supports mobile ads by tying marketing to content, which in turn enhances the mobile experience. We must realize sooner or later that traditional advertising does not translate well on mobile devices, and a new approach must be taken to support mobile ads.

In another move to place itself in the photo-sharing frenzy, Twitter is reportedly introducing a set of image filters to its mobile apps. This would be the latest move to position itself against Instagram, including Twitter’s deliberate self-removal from the retro image app’s “find friends” option. Competition over the growing social photo-sharing space continues to heat up as Flickr and Facebook Camera join the fray with filtering options – but with millions of photos shared on the platform each day, Twitter’s entry would have an immediate impact. Now one must wonder: Is Twitter moving away from the simplicity that originally drew users to it?

Acting as both on-the-scene reporter and supplier of big-picture context, Twitter was briefly transformed from a network of self-indulgence, self-promotion and sarcastic retweets into the real-time information service it has been promised to be. Over the years we have seen flashes of Twitter’s ability to connect the masses around a shared event, from the Super Bowl to the earthquake in Japan. Last week, amid the damage on the East Coast, we saw Twitter’s richest potential yet for sharing both the micro and macro views of culture-defining events – time will tell if this will be the true legacy of Twitter.

Instagram is no longer just a mobile platform. Users can now further socialize their photo-filtering activities through their online profile pages with common social network capabilities such as the ability to follow users, comment and like photos, and edit profiles easily and directly from the Web. Profile pages are available for individuals and brands. Check out Nike’s: http://instagram.com/nike. The platform still wants to keep the service as a mobile-centric one, so it is limiting photo uploads to mobile devices only – for now.

The micro-blogging platform has grown substantially from 15 billion monthly page views in early 2012 and is boasting a growth rate of around 30% a year. The company only monetizes a small sliver of its impressions to preserve the proper user experience and community feel. David Karp, CEO of Tumblr, explains the decision to keep advertising limited and to include reblogging as the format for post feedback.

We’ve heard over and over that mobile ads are the future, so why are we not developing a separate strategy to support them? According to Sam Grobart, repurposing banner and interstitial ads does not work because they are disruptive to the mobile experience. Facebook and Twitter are in the process of trying to overcome the resistance by developing a “native” strategy that supports mobile ads by tying marketing to content, which in turn enhances the mobile experience. We must realize sooner or later that traditional advertising does not translate well on mobile devices, and a new approach must be taken to support mobile ads.

In another move to place itself in the photo-sharing frenzy, Twitter is reportedly introducing a set of image filters to its mobile apps. This would be the latest move to position itself against Instagram, including Twitter’s deliberate self-removal from the retro image app’s “find friends” option. Competition over the growing social photo-sharing space continues to heat up as Flickr and Facebook Camera join the fray with filtering options – but with millions of photos shared on the platform each day, Twitter’s entry would have an immediate impact. Now one must wonder: Is Twitter moving away from the simplicity that originally drew users to it?

Acting as both on-the-scene reporter and supplier of big-picture context, Twitter was briefly transformed from a network of self-indulgence, self-promotion and sarcastic retweets into the real-time information service it has been promised to be. Over the years we have seen flashes of Twitter’s ability to connect the masses around a shared event, from the Super Bowl to the earthquake in Japan. Last week, amid the damage on the East Coast, we saw Twitter’s richest potential yet for sharing both the micro and macro views of culture-defining events – time will tell if this will be the true legacy of Twitter.

Instagram is no longer just a mobile platform. Users can now further socialize their photo-filtering activities through their online profile pages with common social network capabilities such as the ability to follow users, comment and like photos, and edit profiles easily and directly from the Web. Profile pages are available for individuals and brands. Check out Nike’s: http://instagram.com/nike. The platform still wants to keep the service as a mobile-centric one, so it is limiting photo uploads to mobile devices only – for now.

The micro-blogging platform has grown substantially from 15 billion monthly page views in early 2012 and is boasting a growth rate of around 30% a year. The company only monetizes a small sliver of its impressions to preserve the proper user experience and community feel. David Karp, CEO of Tumblr, explains the decision to keep advertising limited and to include reblogging as the format for post feedback.

We’ve heard over and over that mobile ads are the future, so why are we not developing a separate strategy to support them? According to Sam Grobart, repurposing banner and interstitial ads does not work because they are disruptive to the mobile experience. Facebook and Twitter are in the process of trying to overcome the resistance by developing a “native” strategy that supports mobile ads by tying marketing to content, which in turn enhances the mobile experience. We must realize sooner or later that traditional advertising does not translate well on mobile devices, and a new approach must be taken to support mobile ads.

In another move to place itself in the photo-sharing frenzy, Twitter is reportedly introducing a set of image filters to its mobile apps. This would be the latest move to position itself against Instagram, including Twitter’s deliberate self-removal from the retro image app’s “find friends” option. Competition over the growing social photo-sharing space continues to heat up as Flickr and Facebook Camera join the fray with filtering options – but with millions of photos shared on the platform each day, Twitter’s entry would have an immediate impact. Now one must wonder: Is Twitter moving away from the simplicity that originally drew users to it?

The mobile device continues to disrupt the path to purchase as consumers increasingly rely on their mobile devices to steer them to the best deal during their shopping experiences. A recent survey by PriceGrabber indicates that nearly one-third (32%) of consumers are planning to download additional applications and that the most popular category of applications that pique consumer interests are related to offers, deals and coupons. Of those consumers who plan to download, 66% are considering price comparison apps that bring online, in-store and competitor prices together at every stage of the path to purchase.

Often, when brands choose to engage with their customers through social media, they dream of establishing a voice that authentically captures the brand’s personality and treats customers with respect. However, even more often, they will encounter people online that attempt to take advantage of that goal, abusing the patience and hospitality of the customer service team. What would happen if the brand chose to respond to trolls with authentic irritation?

With the population growing and increasingly connected, parents are rushing to claim the electronic versions of their children, and even their unborn children. Some parents, as soon as they decide on a name for their offspring, create websites, Twitter handles and Gmail accounts for their children to ensure that they preserve the highly coveted “firstandlastname.com.” Other parents who are slower to ensure their children’s digital future raise the question of whether their children will want an eponymous digital presence or will they prefer something completely unrelated to their offline identity. Also, will these platforms and technologies even matter when our children come of age to be responsible for their digital identity?

Not only is ignorance bliss, it may play a key role in determining how consumers respond to advertising. The Journal of Consumer Research found that learning more about a product makes some consumers desire it less. While some consumers desire additional product information, others find that added details expose their existing understanding as shallow and leave them disappointed.

PepsiCo puts QR codes in the center of the “Live for Now” global campaign as well as above the Pepsi logo on cups. Live for Now is a yearlong campaign between Twitter and Pepsi that is aimed at connecting young, tech-savvy consumers to their favorite music artists through multimedia. Using QR codes, Pepsi is using mobile to push video content. The videos feature a recap of entertainment news with segments that are updated regularly.

The mobile device continues to disrupt the path to purchase as consumers increasingly rely on their mobile devices to steer them to the best deal during their shopping experiences. A recent survey by PriceGrabber indicates that nearly one-third (32%) of consumers are planning to download additional applications and that the most popular category of applications that pique consumer interests are related to offers, deals and coupons. Of those consumers who plan to download, 66% are considering price comparison apps that bring online, in-store and competitor prices together at every stage of the path to purchase.

Often, when brands choose to engage with their customers through social media, they dream of establishing a voice that authentically captures the brand’s personality and treats customers with respect. However, even more often, they will encounter people online that attempt to take advantage of that goal, abusing the patience and hospitality of the customer service team. What would happen if the brand chose to respond to trolls with authentic irritation?

With the population growing and increasingly connected, parents are rushing to claim the electronic versions of their children, and even their unborn children. Some parents, as soon as they decide on a name for their offspring, create websites, Twitter handles and Gmail accounts for their children to ensure that they preserve the highly coveted “firstandlastname.com.” Other parents who are slower to ensure their children’s digital future raise the question of whether their children will want an eponymous digital presence or will they prefer something completely unrelated to their offline identity. Also, will these platforms and technologies even matter when our children come of age to be responsible for their digital identity?

Not only is ignorance bliss, it may play a key role in determining how consumers respond to advertising. The Journal of Consumer Research found that learning more about a product makes some consumers desire it less. While some consumers desire additional product information, others find that added details expose their existing understanding as shallow and leave them disappointed.

PepsiCo puts QR codes in the center of the “Live for Now” global campaign as well as above the Pepsi logo on cups. Live for Now is a yearlong campaign between Twitter and Pepsi that is aimed at connecting young, tech-savvy consumers to their favorite music artists through multimedia. Using QR codes, Pepsi is using mobile to push video content. The videos feature a recap of entertainment news with segments that are updated regularly.

The mobile device continues to disrupt the path to purchase as consumers increasingly rely on their mobile devices to steer them to the best deal during their shopping experiences. A recent survey by PriceGrabber indicates that nearly one-third (32%) of consumers are planning to download additional applications and that the most popular category of applications that pique consumer interests are related to offers, deals and coupons. Of those consumers who plan to download, 66% are considering price comparison apps that bring online, in-store and competitor prices together at every stage of the path to purchase.

Often, when brands choose to engage with their customers through social media, they dream of establishing a voice that authentically captures the brand’s personality and treats customers with respect. However, even more often, they will encounter people online that attempt to take advantage of that goal, abusing the patience and hospitality of the customer service team. What would happen if the brand chose to respond to trolls with authentic irritation?

With the population growing and increasingly connected, parents are rushing to claim the electronic versions of their children, and even their unborn children. Some parents, as soon as they decide on a name for their offspring, create websites, Twitter handles and Gmail accounts for their children to ensure that they preserve the highly coveted “firstandlastname.com.” Other parents who are slower to ensure their children’s digital future raise the question of whether their children will want an eponymous digital presence or will they prefer something completely unrelated to their offline identity. Also, will these platforms and technologies even matter when our children come of age to be responsible for their digital identity?

Not only is ignorance bliss, it may play a key role in determining how consumers respond to advertising. The Journal of Consumer Research found that learning more about a product makes some consumers desire it less. While some consumers desire additional product information, others find that added details expose their existing understanding as shallow and leave them disappointed.

PepsiCo puts QR codes in the center of the “Live for Now” global campaign as well as above the Pepsi logo on cups. Live for Now is a yearlong campaign between Twitter and Pepsi that is aimed at connecting young, tech-savvy consumers to their favorite music artists through multimedia. Using QR codes, Pepsi is using mobile to push video content. The videos feature a recap of entertainment news with segments that are updated regularly.